Police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez faces another vote of no confidence this week - from her own former council colleagues. Ms Hernandez was a member of Torbay Council before she took on the job as Devon and Cornwall's police chief.

Now her old council will be the latest to move for a vote of no confidence in her. The Conservative commissioner has already endured votes of no confidence from Plymouth City Council, which she lost, and another by the police scrutiny panel, which she won.

Alison Hernandez

Devon County Council's cabinet also backed the commissioner last month. Cornish councillors are also expected to have a similar discussion this month.

Read More

Now Liberal Democrat councillors in Torbay have her in their sights. They are angry at police cuts as well as Ms Hernandez' comments on using armed volunteers in response to terrorist incidents and her attempts to appoint a deputy.

They have also not forgiven her for taking a 'selfie' with firefighters at the Exeter Royal Clarence Hotel fire.

Devon & Cornwall police have issued an appeal

A motion to the council meeting on Thursday, proposed by Nick Pentney and seconded by Cindy Stocks, is headed 'Crisis in Frontline Policing in Torbay' and reads: "Torbay Council is extremely alarmed that under the watch of Alison Hernandez, there has been a drastic reduction in the number of PCSOs, the eyes and ears of the force in Torbay.

Read More

"Torquay town centre has just come through a summer season that was marred by anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol abuse and intimidation of the public.

"The cuts to our PCSOs have exacerbated these problems. An overwhelming majority of respondents to a crime survey conducted by the Torbay Liberal Democrats said that they did not think there was enough police on patrol in Torquay.

Police officers

"Additionally there is a general concern that the Police and Crime Commissioner is unfit and unsuitable for her job after making tactless comments about being 'really interested' in licensed firearm owners being allowed to act during terrorist incidents.

"We endorse Deputy Chief Constable Paul Netherton’s view that 'Under no circumstances would we want members of the public to arm themselves with firearms'. In October 2016 the Police and Crime Commissioner was heavily criticised for taking ‘selfies’ whilst a huge fire ripped through one of Britain’s oldest buildings.

"This Council believes that the Police and Crime Commissioner is wrong to propose reductions in Neighbourhood Policing, that proposals to utilise domestically owned firearms is a crass and inadequate response to mounting concerns about police cuts and that her proposal to appoint a Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner is an appointment that is just not needed in these cash-strapped times.

Police news alert (Image: Devon and Cornwall Police)

"We therefore request the Chief Executive to contact the Home Secretary requesting she use whatever powers may be available to remove Ms Hernandez from office allowing Devon and Cornwall Police to continue the fight against crime at all levels and that Members of Torbay Council show their lack of support for the Police and Crime Commissioner by voting 'No Confidence' in her office."

Cllr Pentney added: "Our Police and Crime Commissioner’s behaviour has raised more than one eyebrow since her election in 2016. But the main issue for me is the way that – under her watch – police and PCSO numbers in Torquay continue to be reduced while accounts of crime and anti-social behaviour in our town centre is rocketing. That cannot be right and accountability must fall at the door of Mrs Hernandez.”

Cllr Stocks continued: I’ve been told by those serving in the police that numbers of front line PCSOs have been reduced from over 30 to just eight in the space of only a few years. Meanwhile, crime, anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and alcohol abuse is plaguing our streets and our hardworking but overstretched police simply cannot cope. We need our streets reclaimed and for that we need extra policing resource.”